Tongs



June 5, 1962 J. R. ANDERSON TONGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 30, 1958 INVENTOR.

J. R. ANDERSON June 5, 1962 TONGS 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Dec. 30, 1958 INVENTOR.

JOHN EANDEPJO/V ){aofes [eananfi but! rates 3,037,806 .TONGS John R. Anderson, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Heppenstall This invention relates to a tongs of the lifting lever class to be suspended-from a crane or other materials-handling equipment. More particularly, my invention pertains to such tongs of relatively lighter weight and lower headroom in which the gripping mechanism is manually adjustable. This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 783,974, filed December '30, 1958 in the United States Patent Office.

Tongs of this invention enables various objects including' metal coils, piles of sheets and other objects of various size and dimension to be initially engaged by a manual adjustment of the tongspreparatory to the application of the full tongs grip squeeze for lifting, shifting or other movement of such objects. The adjustment of the new construction can beperformed easily by a person operating the tongs. Such tongs, moreover, has relatively fewer parts of lighter weight and lower headroom and will remain in safe and good working order. Embodiments of my new construction preferably include counterbalance means to keep the tongs relatively level both in loaded and in unloaded condition. Preferably, too, automatically alternate latch and unlatching mechanism is-provided, or a manual latch maybe used therewith.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of 'one embodiment only, in which FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation of one embodiment of a tongs of this invention, partly in section along line 1-1 of FIGURE 2 and having shoes fitted for the lifting and handling of coils, shown in position preparatory to initial gripping and lifting of such coil;

FIGURE 2 is a front view of the tongs embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line IIIIII of FIG- URE 1 following initial manual adjustment of the gripping shoes to engage the sides of the coil being handled in that instance;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the tongs embodiment shown in the foregoing drawings lifting the coil in question, with counterbalance mechanism therein shown in section taken along line IVIV of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in section taken along line VV of FIGURE 4.

:Referring tothe drawings, an embodimentltl of a tongs ofrny invention is shown fitted with shoes adapted to handle coils of metal one of which is shown at C in chain line outline. Tongs is provided with aframe 11 having a baseplate-12, longitudinally extendingtransversely spaced side walls 13, longitudinally extending transversely spaced way'rnembers 14 and forwardly and upwardly extending bracket arms 15, all rigidly connected together in integral fashion. as by welding. A longitudinal slot 16*extends from the front edge of base plate 12 to an intermediate portion thereof. Handle bars 17 'are rigidly connected on each side between the bracket "arms and the base of frame 11. The rear end offrame 11 is provided with a latch keeper having longitudinally spaced bars 18 welded across the space between walls 13 to define an upwardly flaring transverse'latch keeper slot 19, which alternately retains and releases an inverted T- shaped latch boltltl, shown in-retained latching position atent 3,937,80b Patented June 5, 1962 ice :sides'of aqshoe slide 24. Slide 24 is generally L-shaped in side view and has a depending portion 25 rigidly connected to an outer shoe zwith a concave face 27 for the gripping of round objects or coils such as coil C. .A- handlebar 28 is fastened in depending portion 25 and projects to :each' side so'that a;person operating tongs 10 maygrab the handlebar means :17 and 28 on either side of the tongs to slide member24 a selected distance along the ways 21 as will be further described hereinbelow. A shoe. plate *29-is fixed to base plate 112 and depends therefrom. An inner shoe30 with'a convex coil gripping face '31 is fixed to plate '29 in longitudinally.opposed relationto shoe 26. Plate 29 andshoe 30-willfit into the eye or window of a coilso that, tongs 1'0. maygrip and'handle the same.

The top of slide 24 is provided with a plurality of ratchet teetha32 having substantially vertical pawl-engaging faces 33 and ratchet faces 34, respectively. The ratchet faces incline upwardly and forwardly :as shown. The length of eachtooth is such that after a-person adjusts tongs manuallywhen it rests on a coil such as coilC so that both shoes.26.and 30 engage the respective sides,=the liftingof tongs 10 by a crane book 35 or the like with latch bolt released will cause the shoes to squeeze coil C enough to enable it to be safely lifted by tongs 10 as illustrated in :FIGURE '4.

Bracket arms '15 are provided with a pair of transversely registering openings 36 through which alever pin 37 "extendsto'act as a fulcrum for a lifting lever38 having spaced parallel arms 39' rigidly connected by, a transverse collar 40 and the assembly connections'illustrated. Each side 39 is provided with downwardly extending roffsets- 41 with transversely registering openings 42 therein to journal a pawl pin 43about which a pawl '44 pivots. The rear lower end of pawl-44 is provided with a pawl point 45 to cooperate with -a respective pawl-engaging face 'of the ratchet teeth 32 topress shoe "26 toward shoe 3t) when lever 38 rises and rotates in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of pin :37. A transversely extending lift bar 46 is fixed to pawl '44. Spacers 47. surroundpin '43 an'dicentrally position-pawl 4 4 between offset members i-l.

The rear end of each side 39 is provided with an extension i8-for a la-tchrnechanism 49"fastened to. both of the extensions 4-8 by a holderbracket '50. At the front of extension 48, the arms '39 are provided with transversely registering openings 51 to journal an interme-, diate' stud pin 52. about which a clevis'53-pivots. =Clevis 53-is made up of transversely spaced side plates 54 connected by-a sleeve 55 'fixed thereto, which sleevevsurrounds thestudSZ, and by alike sleeve 56' surrounding a clevis stud pin '57 fixedly connecting the other ends of'the respectiveplates 54. Thus'the sleeve'56 acts as a clevis pinfor engagement by-cra-ne hook '35 or other appropr-iatematerials-handling equipment when tongs 10 is being used.

Connector,counterbalances 58-are provided to each side of the clevis "53 and 'lifting lever 38in respective pivotal relationthereto between'the axis of leverpin 37 and'the axis-of acounterbalancepin 59 extending between and-fastened to the sides' 54 of zclevis 53. Such oounterbalances :58 comprise,,as m0re fully illustrated in FIGURE 4, a spring case 60 havingva retainerend 61 through which a spring rod 62-extends.inslidablerelation to'the case. Eachcase'60 has. a rigid bentarmw63 with an opening-therethrough'for pivotal connection to the pin 5's. Each spring rod 162 has, an eye 64 atits lower end iournaled on a transverse integral necked portion'37a of' lever pin 37,t-he eye 64 being rotatable about such necked portion 37a. The upper end of each spring rod 62 is threaded for the positioning thereon of a spring retainer 65 held in place by a lock-type nut 66. A captive spring 67 is positioned on each side between the respective retainers 61 and 65 and normally urges case 60 and rod 62 into telescoped relation to foreshorten the distance between the axis of pin 37 and the axis of pin 59. The foreshortened condition normally exists when tongs is in unloaded condition as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the extended condition in the circumstances shown in FIGURE 4. Such counterbalances 58 are use- 111 in maintaining tongs 10 relatively level whether itis in unloaded or loaded condition as shown respectively in those FIGURES 1 and 4.

The automatic alternating latch mechanism 49 may be made in accordance with the disclose of Patent No. 2,776,- 857 issued January 8, 1957. In such a latch mechanism, the latch bolt may be provided with an internal transverse pin to be rotated by opposed angularly offset cam surfaces through respective engagement thereof by said pin and thereby rotate the head of ink 20 on the underside of keeper 18 through ninety angular degrees in the course of each operation of mechanism 49. Thus, in operation, the deposit of a load after being carried by my new tongs 10 would cause latching engagement of bolt 20 and keeper 18 for level easy removal of the tongs from that load. However, as the tongs 10 is brought to rest on a new load such as coil C, the bolt 20 will be rotated ninety degrees to its aligned disengagement position with slot 19 (as shown in FIGURE 4) so that the next lifting of clevis 53 will permit bolt 20 and keeper 18 to separate bringing tongs 10 to the position shown in FIGURE 4 with coil C either ready to be lifted or in process of being lifted. Thereafter, when coil C is brought to rest and hook 35 lowers lever 38 enough to cause bolt 20 to pass through slot 19 so that the head is again below keeper 18, contact between mechanism 49 and keeper 18 will again rotate bolt 20 ninety degrees to the latched position shown in 'FIGURE 1. Thereupon, since such lowering of lifting lever 38 tends to move slide 24 forwardly by the drag of pawl 44 on the tooth 32 with which it is in contact, it is possible to grasp lift bar 46 and lift pawl 45 above the crest of the teeth 32 so that slide 24 can be moved forwardly moving shoe 26 out of engagement with the adjoining side of the object which it has just been carrying. Then the raising of hook 35 will lift tongs 10 away from the coil in the latched position shown in FIG- URE 1.

Conversely, with tongs 10 in the condition and position shown in FIGURE 1, a person grasping the handles 17 and 28 can move shoe 26 into initial gripping engagement with the side of coil C causing point 45 to ratchet and be ready to engage a different pawl-engaging face (in this case of coil C that of the next tooth 32), thus putting slide 24 in initial engagement position. And, if the cables holding hook 35 are slackened a little to cause the body of latch mechanism 49 to press against keeper 18 it will cause the head of bolt 20 to rotateso that as and when hook 35 is next lifted, such head will move into alignment with and pass out through slot 19 causing pawl 44 to shift to the right as vie-wed in FIGURE 1 produc ing a lifting grip upon coil C between shoes 26 and before coil C is lifted. Thus, a relatively small upward movement of lever 38 in moving pivotally away from frame 11 exerts a thrust to move the shoes toward one another to squeeze the coil with a liftingforce because the shoes preliminarily had been moved into a substantially into enga'gementwith the load. Thereby, tongs 10 a requires lower headroom in which to develop a lifting force and concurrently has a relatively greater mechanical leverage advantage in providing that force.

Moreover, the counterbalances .58, as the full lift is developed by raising of hook 35, will move from the unloaded position shown in FIGURE 1 to the loaded position shown in FIGURE 4 compressing spring 67.

Such lengthening of the distance between the axes of pins 37 and 59 allows clevis 53 to swing enough to maintain frame 11 and the load in relatively level position by virtue of the shifting of the lifting force axis toward the center of gravity of the combined tongs and load during such lifting.

Moreover, the counterbalance means may be omitted in some cases and various other changes may be made in the illustrated embodiment and other embodiments derived from the foregoing disclosure without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame having spaced walls fixed thereto, longitudinally extending ways in opposing spaced relation integral with the inner sides of said walls, a shoe connected to said frame and depending from an intermediate portion thereof, a slide longitudinally movable along said ways in the space between said walls, a depending portion on said slide adjacent the forward end farther from said first-named shoe, a shoe connected to said de pending portion in adjustable opposed relation to said first-named shoe, the bottom of said frame toward said second-named shoe being slotted for adjustment of the spacing between said shoes, the top of said slide having teeth therein, said teeth having a pawl-engaging face and a ratcheting face, said ratcheting faces being inclined upwardly and forwardly from said pawl-engaging faces, bracket arms fixed to said walls extending upwardly and forwardly, a lifting lever pivotally connected adjacent its forward end to said bracket arms, a generally downwardly offset portion on said lifting lever, a longitudinally extending pawl pivotally connected to said offset portion of said lifting lever, a projecting pawl point on said pawl adjacent the rear end of said pawl to abut a selected pawlengagingface of one of said teeth, and a clevis pivotally connected to said lifting lever rearwardly of the center thereof, said clevis having an eye portion for a crane hook or the like, an extensible spring-loaded counterbalance pivotally connected to said clevis and to said lifting lever about said first-named pivotal connection, said counterbalance having a spring case member and a spring rod member passing therethrough, and a spring held in retained relation between said members to normally urge them into foreshortened relation, an extension on said lifting lever, alternate latching and unlatching mechanism respectively connected to said latch extension, and a latch keeper fixed to said frame.

2. A tongs as set forth in claim 1, having handle means to each side of said frame and of said depending portion respectively for ready adjustment of the initial space between said shoes.

3. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame having spaced walls connected thereto, longitudinally extending ways in opposing spaced relation integral with the inner sides of said Walls, a shoe connected to said frame and depending from an intermediate portion thereof, a slide longitudinally movable along said ways in the space between said walls, 9. depending portion on said slide adjacent the forward end farther from said first-named shoe, a shoe connected to said depending portion in adjustable opposed relation to said first-named shoe, the top of said slide having teeth therein, said teeth having a-pawl-engaging face and a ratcheting facegsaid ratcheting faces being inclined upwardly and forwardly from said pawl-engaging faces, bracket arms fixed to said walls extending upwardly and forwardly,,a lifting lever pivotally connected adjacent its forward end to said bracket arms, a generally downwardly offset portion on said lifting lever, a longitudinally extending pawl pivotally connected to said offset portion of said lifting lever to abut a selected pawl-engaging face of one of said teeth, and a clevis pivotally connected to said lifting lever rearwardly of the center thereof.

4. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame having spaced walls connected thereto,.longitudinally extending ways in opposing spaced relation integral with the inner sides of said walls, a shoe connected to said frame and depending from an intermediate portion thereof, a slide longitudinally movable along said Ways in the space between said walls, a depending portion on said slide adjacent the forward end fartherfrom saidfirst-named-shoe, a shoe connected to said depending portion'in adjustable opposed relation to said first-named shoe the bottom of said frame toward said second-namedshoe-beingslotted for adjustment of the spacing between said shoes, thetop of said slide having teeth therein, said teeth having a pawl-engaging face and a ratcheting face, said ratcheting faces being inclined upwardly and forwardly from said pawl-engaging faces, bracket arms fixed to said walls extending upwardly and forwardly, a lifting lever pivotally connected adjacent its forward end to said bracket arms, a generally downwardly offset portion on said lifting lever, a longitudinally extending pawl pivotally connected to said offset portion of said lifting lever, a projecting pawl point on said pawl adjacent the rear end of said pawl to abut a selected pawlengaging face of one of said teeth, a clevis pivotally connected to said lifting lever rearwardly of the center thereof, said clevis having an eye portion for a crane hook or the like, an extensible spring-loaded counterbalance pivotally connected to said clevis and to said liftin g lever about said first-named pivotal connection, said counterbalance having a spring case member and a spring rod member passing therethrough, and a spring held in retained relation between said members to normally urge them into foreshortened relation.

5. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame having spaced walls con nected thereto, a shoe connected to said frame and depending therefrom, a slide longitudinally movable between said walls in transversely retained relation thereto, a shoe connected to said slide and depending therefrom in adjustable opposed relation to said first-named shoe, said slide having teeth along the top thereof, said teeth having a pawl-engaging face and a ratcheting face, said ratcheting faces being inclined upwardly and forwardly, bracket arms fixed to said walls, a lifting lever pivotally connected adjacent its forward end to said bracket arms, an offset portion on said lifting lever, a pawl pivotally connected to said offset portion of said lifting lever, a projecting pawl point on said pawl adjacent the rear end thereof to engage a selected pawl-engaging face, a clevis pivotally connected to said lifting lever, a counterbalance pivotally connected to said clevis and to said lifting lever, means to urge said counterbalance into fore-shortened condition, and means respectively connected to said lifting lever and frame to selectively latch the two together.

6. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame having a slideway, a shoe connected to said frame, a slide longitudinally movable along said slideway and supported by said frame, a shoe connected to said slide in adjustable opposed relation to said first-named shoe, said slide having ratchet teeth, a bracket fixed to said frame, a longitudinally extending lifting lever pivotally connected to said bracket about a transverse axis, a longitudinally extending pawl pivotally connected to said lifting lever and adapted to operatively engage said ratchet teeth by gravity, means pivotally connected to said lifting lever in longitudinal spaced relation to said pivotal connection to said bracket for lifting said tongs, and means respectively connected to said lifting lever and frame to selectively latch the two together.

7. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame having a slideway, a shoe connected to said frame, a slide longitudinally movable along said slideway and supported by said frame, a shoe connected to said slide in adjustable opposed relation to said first-named shoe, said slide having ratchet teeth, a bracket fixedto said frame, a longitudinallytextending liftinglever pivotally connected to said bracket about atransverse axis, a longitudinally extending pawl pivotally connected tosaid lifting lever and adapted to operatively engage said ratchet teeth, and means pivotally connected to said lifting lever in longitudinally spaced relation to said pivotal connection-to said bracket for lifting said tongs.

*8. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame, a shoe connected to said frame, a slide, means for mounting said slide relative to said frame forlongitudinal movement jtherealong, a

shoe connected to .saidlslide in load-engageable relation to said first-named shoe, a bracket fixed to said frame, at least one longitudinally extending lifting lever pivotally connected to said bracket about a transverse axis, said slide being adapted to move said shoes relatively substantially into engagement with a load without pivotal movement of said lifting lever relative to said frame, and means adapted to 'operatively connect said lifting lever and said slide to hold said shoesagainst separation when substantially in said engagement with said load without pivotal movement of said lifting lever relative to said frame, whereby upon pivotal movement of said lifting lever about said transverse axis when said shoes are substantially in said engagement with a load, said shoes will squeeze grip said load with a lifting force upon a relatively small upward pivotal movement of said lifting lever and with relatively greater mechanical advantage.

9. A tongs as set forth in claim 8 having means respectively connected to said lifting lever and frame to selectively and alternately latch the two together and unlatch to provide a load release latched-open tongs and an unlatched load lifting condition tongs.

10. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame, a shoe operatively connected to said frame, a member movable on said frame toward and away from a load, a shoe on said member in opposed relation to said first-named shoe, at least one lifting lever pivotally connected to said frame, means for relatively moving said shoes toward one another substantially into engagement with said load substantially without pivotal movement of said lifting lever relative to said frame, means adapted to operatively connect said lifting lever and said member to hold said shoes against separation when substantially in said engagement with a load without pivotal movement of said lifting lever relative to said frame and to move said shoes relatively closer to one another upon pivotal movement of said lifting lever relative to said frame, whereby said shoes will grip a load with a lifting grip and relatively greater mechanical advantage upon a relatively smaller rise in said lifting lever.

11. A tongs as set forth in claim 10 having a lifting connector swingably connected to said tongs and adapted to be engaged by a pick-up device to support said tongs, a counterbalance to hold said connector when said tongs are empty with the center of gravity of said tongs generally below said device and to yield to permit said connector to swing when said tongs lifts a load to place said device nearer to vertical alignment with the combined center of gravity of tongs and load.

12. In a tongs, apparatus comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame, a shoe connected to said frame, a slide mounted on and movable longitudinally in said frame, a shoe connected to said slide in movably opposed relation to said first-named shoe, a lifting lever pivotally connected to said frame about a transverse axis, said slide being movable to move said shoes relative to one another substantially into engagement with a load without substantial change in a relatively collapsed position of said lifting lever relative to said frame, and means operatively connected to said lifting lever to hold said shoes against separation without pivotal movement of said lifting lever and to thrust upon said slide upon pivotal movement of said lifting lever to move said shoes relaa load with a lifting grip and relatively greater leverage upon a. relatively smaller upward movement of said lifting lever.

13. A tongs as set forth in claim 12 having a clevis pivotally connected to said lifting lever rearwardly of the center thereof, said clevis having an eye portion for a crane hook or the like, an extensible spring-loaded counterbalance pivotally connected to said clevis and to said lifting lever about said first-named pivotal connecnormally urge them into foreshortened relation, an extension on said lifting lever, an alternate latching and unlatching mechanism respectively connected to said latch extension, and a latch keeper fixed to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,060,722 Breslav Nov. 10, 1936 2,370,528 Fontaine Feb. 27, 1945 2,374,120 Mueller et a1 Apr. 17, 1945 2,675,261 Egge Apr. 13, 1954 2,803,489 Zito Aug. 20, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. $037,806 June 5 1962 John R. Anderson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column .3 line 16, for "disclose" read disclosure 3 llne o7, for "a" read or column 5,, line 65 for "longltudinal" read longitudinally Signed and sealed this 25th day of September 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

